From DNC Protests to TDP Victory: The Road to Recognition at the 2026 TDP Convention

The summer of 2024 marked a turning point for American Muslims. Outside the United Center in Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention, thousands gathered not just to protest, but to demand visibility. For decades, Muslim and Arab American activists had participated in the democratic process, registering voters and serving as delegates, yet their voices were systematically sidelined when it mattered most. The rejection of demands for a Palestinian speaker at the DNC was a stark reminder that participation alone does not guarantee representation. As Maya Berry of the Arab American Institute noted, those who had devoted their lives to the party found themselves locked out, forced to spend nights sleeping outside while their concerns were ignored.

But exclusion has never stopped the Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas. If anything, it fueled our resolve.

While national headlines focused on the protests in Chicago, work was already underway in Texas. We knew that change would not come from waiting for permission from party elites; it would come from building power at the grassroots level. And so, we turned our eyes to the 2026 Texas Democratic Party State Convention in Corpus Christi, determined to reshape the party’s platform from within.

The result? Five historic resolutions adopted that reflect the moral clarity and political courage of Muslim Texans.

First, Resolution #2005 calls for an immediate embargo on all military aid, weapons shipments, and logistical support to Israel until apartheid practices end. This resolution directly addresses the primary concern of many younger Democratic voters who saw billions in taxpayer funds used to fuel violence abroad while domestic needs went unmet. It aligns Texas Democrats with international human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which have documented Israel’s systemic oppression of Palestinians.

Second, Resolution #2004 goes further, calling for an arms embargo against any country facing open genocide cases at the International Court of Justice. This bold step ensures that Texas institutions—including public universities and pension funds—disassociate from entities complicit in genocide. It echoes the calls of major labor unions nationwide, from flight attendants to auto workers, who have demanded accountability for civilian harm in Gaza.

Third, Resolution #2055 demands immediate U.S. recognition of the State of Palestine within internationally recognized borders. No more vague platitudes about “two-state solutions.” No more enabling settlement expansion through silence. This resolution affirms the right of self-determination for Palestinians and calls for an end to occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing.

Fourth, Resolution #2165 secures civil rights for MENA Texans by mandating a separate Middle Eastern and North African category on all state government forms. For too long, millions of Americans of Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Kurdish, and other backgrounds have been erased by being classified as “White,” denying them access to minority business certifications, contracting preferences, and equitable public investment. This resolution ensures that MENA communities are accurately counted and fairly treated—from Houston to San Antonio, Dallas to Austin.

And finally, Resolution #2018 confronts the political machinery that has long kept these injustices in place. It recognizes AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel as foreign-aligned lobbying organizations and calls for scrutiny of their activities under lobbying-disclosure and foreign-agent laws—affirming that our party’s decisions must answer to Democratic voters, not to the spending of any foreign-aligned interest.

These victories did not happen by accident. They were won through relentless organizing, coalition-building, and unwavering commitment to justice. From voter registration drives in post-9/11 Dallas-Fort Worth to lobbying efforts in Austin, MDC Texas has consistently proven that Muslim Americans are not just participants in democracy—we are leaders shaping its future.

Our story is one of resilience. After 9/11, when prejudice flooded the media, we chose civic engagement over retreat. We organized ballot box barbecues that registered thousands of new voters. We sent delegates to every Texas State Convention since 2002. And now, in 2026, we stand proud knowing that our voices have helped redefine what it means to be a Democrat in Texas.

This is more than politics. This is about dignity. About ensuring that no community is left behind, no voice silenced, no injustice tolerated. Whether fighting for Palestinian liberation or advocating for accurate census data, we remain steadfast in our belief that true progress requires centering the marginalized.

To our fellow Texan Democrats: join us. To our Muslim neighbors: keep showing up. Together, we will continue to empower, shape, and defend—not just for ourselves, but for all Texans who believe in equality, justice, and peace.

Because democracy isn’t given. It’s built—one vote, one resolution, one act of courage at a time.

Watch: On the Ground in Chicago

Read the full text of all four resolutions on our Our Impact: 2026 Historic Resolutions page.